SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- On Tuesday morning, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) received a report of a sewage spill at Mariner’s Cove.
Thousands of gallons of untreated water entered the Rehoboth Bay when a plumbing contractor cut a sewer line.
Delaware Center For The Inland Bays Executive Director Chris Bason says the trickle down effect of the pollution can be extremely dangerous to the shellfish and people.
"It can bring in that bacteria into the tissue and you know that can cause illness, so that does happen from time to time," Bason said. "There are not any reported instances that I’m aware of for the inland bays which is great but the closures that are in place are there to prevent that type of illness."
DNREC recommends that people have limited contact with the Rehoboth Bay water especially by the spot where the spill occurred.
For three weeks, there will not be any harvesting allowed in the bay due to a federal guideline to ensure shellfish are safe to eat. That will put some businesses in a hole including the Rehoboth Beach Oyster Company. Dave Beebe says his shop’s situation will not be as dire as others.
"It's not hurting us as much as some of the other growers that depend on the restaurant business," Beebe said. "We sell a variety of other types of oysters from New England to Chesapeake so we've got some options. But yeah it does hurt. I mean Rehoboth Bay oysters have a unique flavor profile and we sell a ton of them. So yeah the next 21 days is going to hurt."
DNREC says companies in the industry are asked to cooperate and in turn make sure that products are safe for consumers.
Beebe says this is the peak season for oysters but the harvesting will have to wait until the moratorium is over.
